Brassiere



Oct. 13, 1959 .J. L. MAY

BRASSIERE Filed Nov. 10, 1958 INVENTOR. JAMES L. MAY

ATTO RN EYS United States Patent BRASSIERE James L. May, Irving, Tex.

Application November '10, 1958, Serial No. 772,781

4 Claims. (Cl. 128-492) This invention relates to improvements in brassieres and more especially to novel means for supporting the brassiere cups. It is an object of the invention to connect the cups in such a way as to make the chest band carry more of the weight of the breasts than in the case of the customary brassiere, thus relieving the shoulder straps of much of such weight. The improved structure also makes possible a flexible strapless brassiere.

Another object of the invention is the attainment of controlled binding of the breasts, particularly to prevent excess engorgement of the breast as they are enlarging in preparation for lactation.

The conventional brassiere has its cups attached to the chest band only at their peripheries, so that the weight of the breasts is carried chiefly by the shoulder straps. Furthermore an enlarging breast cannot be properly controlled by the conventional brassiere cup since it will swell up out of the cup.

According to the present invention a connecting link is provided between the lower portions of the two cups so that this link, together with lower portions of the cups and the chest band, forms a sort of shelf capable of sup porting the breasts independently of the shoulder straps since the link is part of a continuous tension structure encircling the chest and including a lower portion of each cup and the chest band which is secured to the peripheral edges of such lower portions.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description thereof, and to the drawing, of which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a brassiere embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure l, but on a larger scale; and

Figure 3 is a pattern of sectors which may be used to form one of the cups of the brassiere shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The brassiere illustrated on the drawing can be, and preferably is, made of soft flexible material such as inextensible cotton broadcloth, though this material is mentioned by way of example and not limitation. The brassiere has the customary chest band and cups 12 and 14, the latter being preferably but not necessarily shaped as hereinafter described and as shown in my copending application, Serial No. 748,720, filed July 15, 1958. Such cups may be made by stitching or otherwise securing together sectors which are shaped as indicated in Figure 3, these sectors A, B, C, D and B being cut out for the right-hand cup 12, the left-hand cup 14 being a mirror image of it. generally circular at their peripheries and convex except that lower and outer portions of each cup may be somewhat concave for better support of the breasts, especially Cups of this description are 55 when enlarged or lactating. The chest band 10 is attached to the cups along the peripheries of the latter in the usual manner. Unless the cups are rigid, this provides practically no support for the breasts the weight of which is carried largely by shoulder straps 16 and 18 attached to the cups at their upper edges.

According to the invention, a link is provided to extend from a radius of the lower portion of one cup to a radius of the lower portion of the other cup. Such link is flexible, may be elastic and is preferably adjustable in length. The link shown on the drawing comprises eyelet stays 20 and 22 which are stitched or otherwise secured to radii of the cups extending downward and inward from near the centers of the cups, and a lacing 24 connecting said stays as indicated in Figure 1. This structure makes possible easy adjustment of the link as may be necessary or desirable to accommodate breasts of changing sizes or conditions.

The link and the sectors B and A and B and A of the cups form a sort of shelf which keep the breasts from sagging down over the lower periphery of the cups even when the cups are not supported by shoulder straps. This is because the link, the sectors B and A and B and A, and the portions of the chest band 10 which are in line with the link form a continuous tension band passing around the chest. By the use of this structure a completely flexible strapless bra can be had. Furthermore, this continuous tension band which includes lower portions of the cups and the link which connects them can be elfectively used for controlled binding of breasts to prevent excessive engorgement of the breasts as they are enlarging in preparation for lactation. Proper adjustments for this purpose are readily made by means of the lacing 24.

Various modifications and changes in details of the structure described and illustrated herein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A brassiere comprising two cups, a chest band secured to the peripheries of said cups, and a flexible link extending from one cup to the other, each end of the link being attached to the corresponding cup at a series of points along a radial line below the level of the apex of the cup, whereby said link and chest band form with lower portions of the cups a tension band undergirding the breasts.

2. A brassiere as described in claim 1, said link being adjustable in length.

3. A brassiere as described in claim 2, said link comprising a lacing and eyelet stays attached to said cups along radial lines.

4. A brassiere comprising two generally convex cups each of which has a concave outer lateral and lower portion, a chest band secured to the peripheries of said cups, and a flexible link extending from one cup to the other, each end of the link being secured to the corresponding cup along a radius of the cup extending downward and inward from the center thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 523,888 Foy July 31, 1894 1,382,358 Hogan June 21, 1921 2,733,445 Champagne Feb. 7, 1956 

